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The Year 2012

No one disputes that 2012 is shaping up to be a landmark

year:The United States, France, Finland, Mexico, and SouthKorea are just a few of the many countries that willhold presidential elections that year.

London is the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics, andQueen Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee yearlong cel-ebration that will include festivities throughout theUnited Kingdom.

The US is slated to cede wartime control of theRepublic of Korea military and dissolve the CombinedForces Command after 50 years.

NASA estimates that the astoid Erosthe second largNear Earth Object on reco(13x13x33 km)is expectto miss Earth by only 0.17astronomical units (26,778,0km or 16.1 million miles) January of 2012 (see nssdc.gsnasa.gov/planetary/factsheneofact.html).

And, Intel and Silicon Graphics are set to complwork on a Supercomputerdubbed Pleiades by designersfor NASAs Ames Research Center. P

iades is expected to reach a peak performance 10 Petaflops, or 10 quadrillion operations per sond, making it the worlds third-fastest computer (snas.nasa.gov/News/Releases/2008/05-07-08.htm

But what about Emmerichs doomsday story line 2012should we regard it as fact or fiction? And whabout the fact that many Christians are jumping on t2012 bandwagon and claiming that it will be a propheticly significant year? Much of the hullabaloo is due to a serof programs airing on the History Channel (Doomsd2012: The End of Days [2007], Mayan Doomsday Proph[2006], Last Days on Earth [2006], Seven Signs of Apocalypse [2009], and Nostradamus 2012[2009]).

How do you prepare six billion people for the end of theworld? Thats the question asked in a trailer for the highlyanticipated movie 2012, opening later this year. The film,directed by Roland Emmerich and starring John Cusack andother notable Hollywood luminaries (see sonypictures.com/movies/2012), calls attention to future eventsmost of whichoccur in December 2012, the year some people believe willmark the end of the world.

God has not forgotten the Jewish people, and neither have we.

A Publication of CJF Ministries and Messianic Perspectives Radio Network

MessianicPerspectivesTM

Post Office Box 345, San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345 Elul Tishri Cheshvan 5769 5770 / September-October 20

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Messianic Perspectives

Dr. Gary Hedrick,Editor in ChiefRachel Zanardi,EditorErastos Leiloglou,Designer

Messianic Perspectivesis published bimonthly by CJF Ministries, P.O. Box 345, San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345, a501(c)3 Texas nonprofit corporation: Dr.Gary Hedrick, President; Brian Nowotny, Director of Communications;Rachel Zanardi, Editor; Erastos Leiloglou, Designer. Subscription price: $10 per year. The publication of articles byother authors does not necessarily imply full agreement with all the views expressed therein. Unless otherwisenoted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible (Nashville, TN: ThomasNelson Publishers, 1982). Visit us online at www.cjfm.org. Toll-free OrderLine: (800) 926-5397. 2009 by CJFMinistries. All rights reserved.

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Why do some people believe the worldwill end in 2012? What are the facts?What are the theories? And how dothese facts and theories line up withwhat the Bible says? Lets begin bytaking a look at how a civilization thatlived many centuries ago continues toexert its influence today.

The Mayan Calendar

The Mayans were a people known fortheir advanced writing, mathematics,and astronomy. They lived in Meso-america for centurieswith theirClassic period dating from AD 250 to900. Their religious practices werebrutal, primitive, and included humansacrifice; however, their level of scien-tific and mathematical understand-ing was nothing short of remarkable.Among other advances, they devel-oped an amazingly accurate system ofcalendars that continues to be studiedeven today. According to studentsof this great civilization, the GreatCycle of the Long Count Mayan cal-endar equates to 5,125 years. Based

on these calculations, the currentGreat Cycle began on August 11,3114 BC, and will be completed on thewinter solstice of December 21, 2012.

However, the Mayan calendar theory(with its corresponding dates) isntreally quite as cut-and-dried as it mayseem. In reality, the Maya actually usedseveral calendarsincluding a 260-daycalendar based on the average lengthof human gestation (the Tzolkin), a365-day calendar based on the annualcycles of the sun (Haab), and even acalendar based on the cycles of Venus.Scholars have been trying for decadesto synch the Mayan reckoning of timewith our modern Gregorian calendar,but with only limited success. Thereare numerous theories, and no oneknows for sure which one (if any ofthem) is precisely right.

In its current form, the 2012 dooms-day theory is based on the work ofone expert, Joseph T. Goodman (1838-

1917), who devised the first versionof correlation #584283 in 1905. Inthe 1930s, and again in the 1950s,

Goodmans calculationswere revised by three daysto pinpoint the beginningand ending of the GreatCycle with the dates wementioned earlier in 3114BC and AD 2012, respec-tively. But again, theproblem is that numer-ous correlations havebeen proposed betweenthe Mayan calendar(s)and our modern calen-

dar. The 2012 doomstersbase their theory on onlyone of them, with no con-clusive proof that its theright one.

Even more importantly,there is no indicationwhatsoever that theMaya viewed 2012 asthe end of the world!It is perfectly reason-able to assume that theend of the current GreatCycle would have simplymarked, in their way of

thinking, the beginningof a new cycleand theysaw no urgency in devis-ing a calendar for yet

another cycle that wouldnt begin more than a thousand years. Contrato what the doomsters would haus believe, the ancient Maya wouhave relished the successful comption of a Great Cycle as an occasifor great joy and celebrationnot feand trepidation. Its a classic argment from silence; that is, since onethe Mayan calendars appears to stabruptly in the year 2012, that mumean they thought that year woumark the end of the worldevthough the Mayans themselves nevsaid so.

Nonetheless, the 2012 doomsters tathe ball and run with it, buildion the Mayan notion that the curent Great Cycle ends in Decembof 2012. Mayan scholars, such Sandra Noble (executive director the Foundation for the Advancemeof Mesoamerican Studies in CrysRiver, Florida), are criticizing attempto link the end of the Long Count cendar to any kind of doomsday or eof the world catastrophe.

In a 2007 article about the corretion between the Mayan calendar a

a 2012 apocalypse, Noble told UToday, For the ancient Maya, it wahuge celebration to make it to the eof a whole cycle. To render Decembkphoto.com

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21, 2012 as a doomsday or moment ofcosmic shifting is a complete fabrica-tion and a chance for a lot of people tocash in (G. Jeffrey MacDonald, DoesMaya calendar predict 2012 apoca-lypse? [USA Today, 3/27/07]).

Journalist Lawrence Josephs book,Apocalypse 2012: A Scientific Investi-gation into Civilizations End, claimsthat part of the 2012 predictions stemfrom the way the stars will be config-ured that year. On the 2012 wintersolstice, the sun will be aligned withthe center of the Milky Way for thefirst time in about 26,000 years, andaccording to Joseph, . . . whateverenergy typically streams to Earthfrom the center of the Milky Waywill indeed be disrupted on 12/21/12at 11:11 p.m. Universal Time. Thisleads us into our next theory.

Galactic Alignment

If you want to make something silly

sound reasonable, just give it a scien-tific-sounding name. Thats what thedoomsters and others have done here.Much of this idea of galactic align-ment (and its supposed consequences)is just downright ridiculous. Accordingto software-engineer-turned-authorJohn Major Jenkins, galactic align-ment is a rarely occurring intersectionof Earth, sun, and galactic equator. Inhis 2002 book Galactic Alignment:The Transformation of ConsciousnessAccording to Mayan, Egyptian, andVedic Traditions, Jenkins says hebelieves that the classical Mayansanticipated this alignment and thoughtit would signal a profound transitionfor mankind.

But astronomers point out that thisalignment actually covers a 36-yearperiod (corresponding to the diameterof the sun), and began in 1998 with aconvergence that was even more pre-cise than the one thats expected in2012. There were no dire consequenc-es from the alignment 11 years ago,so theres no reason to expect 2012to be any different. Jean Meeus, anastronomer and meteorologist from theUniversity of Leuven in Belgium, con-

firms the bogus nature of these align-ment fears in his book, MathematicalAstronomy Morsels (Ecliptic andGalactic Equator. Richmond, VA:Willmann-Bell Publishers, 1997; ISBN0-943396-51-4).

Another prominent expert, AnthonyAveni, an archeoastronomer and pro-fessor at Colgate, scoffs at the veryidea of galactic alignment: I defyanyone to look up into the sky andsee the galactic equator. . . . Youneed a radio telescope for that, and

[radio telescopes] were not knownanywhere in the world that Iveheard of until the 1930s (BenjaminAnastas, The Final Days [New YorkTimes Magazine, 7/1/07]). Yet 2012apologists continue to claim that theancient Maya somehow knew aboutiteven though theres no way theycould have seen it.

Some extremists and alarmists goso far as to say that the so-calledgalactic alignment will cause a poleshift with ensuing mass destructionall over the planet. According to Dr.David Morrison, senior scientist forastrobiology at NASA Headquartersin Washington, DC, this is nothingmore than an urban legend makingits rounds on the Web:

This is an Internet hoax, with no basisin fact. There is no alignment of planetsor of the Sun with the Galaxy. As faras being in the center of the Galaxy,this is impossible; we are slowly orbiting

the galactic center at a distance of about30,000 light years. The idea of a poleshift is also unfounded. Most peopleseem to mean a rapid change in the rota-tional pole of the Earth, but this is some-thing that has never happened and neverwill. Some people are confusing this withthe reversal of the magnetic poles onEarth, which does take placeregularly, every few hundredthousand years. But there isno evidence that this mighthappen soon, and even if itdid, the magnetic shift wouldbe gradual and there wouldprobably be no consequenc-es on the planet, certainlynothing catastrophic (seeastrobiology.nasa.gov/ask-an-astrobiologist/faq).

Venus

The doomsters also playfast and loose with the factsrelating to their emphasison Venus role in the pre-sumed 2012 alignment. Itis indeed interesting that2012 will be the year wewill witness Venus second

and last solar transit of thiscentury (the next one wontoccur until 2117 and 2125).It is also true that Venusfascinated the Maya, prob-ably because it is one ofthe brightest objects in thenight skyand we alreadymentioned that Venus wasthe basis for one of their cal-endars. However, how doesany of this confirm a dooms-day scenario? Answer: itdoesnt.

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Retired NASA physicist Dr. David P.Stern writes: The only thing whichmakes 2012 special, to my think-ing, is that Venus will pass in frontof the Sun. Such transits occur inpairs, generally more than a centuryapart. Venus was very important tothe Maya, but as it happens, the tran-sit occurs in mid-summer, on June6 (see eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/transit/venus0412.html).

So, the role Venus supposedly playsin the 2012 phenomenon occurs in thesummersix and a half months beforethe winter solsticebut for some rea-son, the doomsters leave that part out.

Nostradamus and the2012 Comet

Michel de Nostredame (known morecommonly by the Latinized versionof his name, Nostradamus), was awell-known figure of the FrenchRenaissance. He was an apothecary,

but is better known for his reputationfor being able to foresee the future.Nostradamus published collections ofprophecies that have attained world-wide popularityespecially in recentdecades. He is best known for his workLes Propheties (The Prophecies), whichfirst appeared in 1555. Nostradamus

wrote in his native French in a poeticstyle, separating his prophecies intoquatrains, or verses consisting offour lines each.

Enthusiasts who follow Nostradamusprophecies credit him with predictingmajor world events throughout histo-ryeverything ranging from the GreatFire of London, to Napoleon, to Hitler,

to the September 11 terrorist attackson the World Trade Center. Manyof them also say that Nostradamuswas able to foresee devastation anddestruction for both Earth and man-kind in the year 2012. Here are two ofthe doomsters favorite proof texts:

Many of the seers fans li

these statementsas well othersto a 2012 comet fire, dragging a tail of sparkapproaching or striking tEarth, causing devastating faines, diseases, natural disasteand war.

However, there are insurmouable difficulties with most,not all of Nostradamus puported propheciesincludithose linked to 2012. Considfor example, the fact thNostradamus nowhere me

tions the end of the worldnot once in all of his writinThe doomsters believe it implied in some passages, bit is nowhere explicitly statNeither does Nostradamus evmake a specific reference the year 2012, or even mogenerally to the 21st centuAlso, there have been instan

where overzealous followers of tFrench seer have taken liberties withe translation from French to heclarify his prophecies.

In his book The Mask of NostradamThe Prophecies of the Worlds MoFamous Seer (Amhurst, New YorPrometheus Books, 1993), JamRandi suggests that modern-day suporters have largely manufacturNostradamus reputation as a propet. Nostradamus words are placinto events that have either alreaoccurred, or are so imminent ththey are inevitablea process somtimes known as retroactive clairvoance or postdiction (rather thprediction). He also shows that som

After great misery for mankindan even greater one approaches,when the great cycle of the

centuries is renewed. It will rainblood, milk , famine, war anddisease. In the sky will be seen a

fire, dragging a tail of sparks.(Nostradamus, Century ii, Quatrain 46)

Mabus will soon die andthere will happen a dreadfuldestruction of people andanimals. Suddenly, vengeancewill appear, a hundred hands,thirst and hunger, when the cometpasses.(Nostradamus, Century ii, Quatrain 62)


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Nostradamus translations are flat-out

fraudulent because they stray so farfrom what he actually wrote.

It is important to note that there is noevidence in the academic literatureto suggest that any Nostradamusquatrain has ever been interpretedas predicting a specific event before itoccurredother than in vague, gen-eral terms that could equally applyto any number of other events. Soheres what we have to ask ourselves:why hasnt anyone ever noticed one ofthese prophesied events before it hap-pened? If Nostradamus really wrote aquatrain about it, why didnt anyone

warn us ahead of time about 9/11?Why do these revelations always seemto come after the fact?

In some ways, its like the widely usedRorschach personality test, wheresomeone is shown a page smeared withrandom inkblots and then asked todescribe what he or she sees. One per-son can look at the page and see a horseor puppy while someone else examinesthe very same page and sees a Ferriswheel or coffee mug. Likewise, twopeople can read the same Nostradamusquatrain and arrive at two entirely

different interpretations, dependingon what each of them is inclined tosee. (For more information from a sec-ular and reasonably objective perspec-tive, see The Unknown Nostradamus:500th Anniversary Biography by PeterLemesurier [Hampshire, UnitedKingdom: O Books, 2003], ISBN 10:1903816327.)

The underlying genius of theNostradamus prophecies is their bril-liant ambiguity. That is, the quatrainsare written in a way that makes it easy

for the readerif he is so inclinedto

take events that have already occurredand read them back into the passage.If the world survives the year 2012 (asit undoubtedly will), someone will findthat little tidbit prophesied in his writ-ings, too. Maybe itll be in an obscurepassage where Nostradamus wrotesomething that sounds like a warn-ing against heeding a false alarm. Thepossibilities are as voluminous as thisfamous Frenchmans writings.

So, all of this begs the question: whatshould be our position on the 2012doomsday predictions?

A Biblical Perspective

Why are so many Bible believers hood-winked by doomsday movements?They willingly drink the Kool-Aid,as it were, without realizing whattheyre doing. Well, in a way, itsunderstandable! Theres a built-inapocalyptic dimension of our faiththats inescapable. Much of the Biblepresents an end of days theme. Itpresents the history of the world asmoving steadily toward a conclusionthats marked by the return of Jesusthe Messiah to this Earth. So when

someone stands up and says the endis near, we respond almost instinc-tively. We want to hear what he hasto say.

We witnessed this phenomenon in the1990s, when the Y2Kers were warn-ing the world about a computer glitchthat might bring the world to an endon January 1, 2000. It wasnt longbefore Christian leaders far and wide,including such notables as Dr. JamesDobson (Focus on the Family) and thelate Bill Bright (Campus Crusade),

Apocalypticism used to be defined as arevelation of Gods will, but society todayhas expanded its definition.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines apoca-lypticism as, Eschatological (end-time)views and movements that focus on cryprevelations about a sudden, dramatic, ancataclysmic intervention of God in histor

the judgment of all men; the salvation ofthe faithful elect; and the eventual rule othe elect with God in a renewed heavenand earth. . . .

The American Heritage Dictionaryhas amore concise definition: Belief in apocalyptic prophecies, especially regarding thimminent destruction of the world and thfoundation of a new world order as a resof the triumph of good over evil.

Random House Dictionaryoffers this:1. any doctrine concerning the end ofthe temporal world, esp. one based onthe supposed prophetic passages in theRevelation of St. John the Divine. 2. themillennial doctrine of the Second Adventand personal reign of Jesus Christ onearth.

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were sounding the alarm about thepotentially devastating effects of thedreaded computer bug. The Christianpublic was spoon-fed a steady diet ofmisinformation and paranoia for thefinal year leading up to January 2000(Y2K).

But as it turned out, nothing hap-pened. Y2K came and went with bare-ly a whimper. Christians around theworld had spent millions of dollars andcountless hours of precious time, pre-paring for something that turned outto be a non-event. We are susceptibleto deceptions like this because biblicalfaith, by its very nature, is apocalyp-tic. The Bible itself is apocalyptic. Itsays our world is a battleground andthat all of history is weaving its waytoward a climactic showdown betweengood and evil.

We believe that divine interventionis an absolute moral and eschatologi-cal necessity. Evil cannot be allowed

to wreak havoc in the world indefi-nitely. Apocalyptic references are notconfined to the Bible. In the Dead

Sea Scrolls, we find references to thesons of light who battle the sonsof darkness at the end of time (WarScroll, fragments 1QM, 4Q491-496).

So heres our predicament. What is tobe done with an end-time mindset thatcomes with problems? We can jettisonthe problematic mindsetsimilar towhat Christian preterists have done. Isuppose that would provide a measureof protection from the doomsdaydeceptions that arise every few years.But it creates an even bigger problembecause it marks a tragic retreat fromone of the Bibles central themesnamely, Messiahs future advent andHis redemption of all creation (seeRomans 8:19-25).

Abandoning our prophetic viewpoint,then, is not an option. We are notgoing to throw out the premillennialbaby with the sensationalist/extrem-ist bath water. We cannot lay asideour blessed hope without losing an

essential component of who we areas believers in Messiah Yeshua (seeTitus 2:13).

The question is this: can we maintaour zeal for the Second Coming whavoiding the pitfalls of extremisI believe we canthat is, if well diligent in three specific areas.

1. Keeping it factual.

Prophecy has become a big businein evangelicalism. Hal Lindseys LaGreat Planet Earth was first pulished in the late 1960s and has somillions of copies. In an effort to tinto the revenue stream (or maybe siply to draw attention to themselvesome fringe writers have resorted exaggeration and distortion. Back the early 1990s, for instance, oPentecostal church leader claimedhave been granted a personal auence with the Antichrist in a secretdesert palace somewhere in the MiddEast. The Antichrist even performedmiracle for himjust to show that meant business! This preacher latprovided a long, detailed account

the meeting in one of his publicationThat account ultimately proved be his undoing because it contain

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inconsistencies and factual errors thatdidnt stand up to scrutiny.

We have already seen that the 2012doomsters are on shaky ground onnumerous counts. They typicallyemploy the scattergun approach,appealing to multiple sources (likeNostradamus, Mother Shipton, theMayans, Merlin, ancient Chinese

sages, and even a Native Americanchieftain, just to name a few). Then theysay, in effect, With this many sources,there must be something to it.

The catch, however, is that most ofthe doomsters sources are irrelevant,misconstrued, or just outright wrong.If an attorney presents a huge pileof evidence in a court of law, but nosingle item in that evidentiary heapis true or relevant, he hasnt reallyhelped his case. Its like one ancientJewish proverb says: A thousandtimes zero still equals zero.

As believers, we should always be care-ful to speak the truth (see Matthew5:37). God himself places a premiumon truth: He is the Rock, His work isperfect; For all His ways are justice,A God of truth and without injustice;Righteous and upright is He (Deut.32:4).

This is why I have never understoodthe proliferation of Christian urbanlegends on the Weblike the sto-ries about Charles Darwins supposeddeathbed conversion, or about NASAcomputers confirming Joshuas story

about a missing day. Who sits athome in front of a computer monitorand invents these stories? What in theworld are they thinking while theyredoing it? As believers in the LordJesus, shouldnt we hold ourselves toa higher standard of truthfulness andauthenticity? Sad to say, atheists andskeptics on the Web have taken noteof the many Christian urban legendscirculating in cyberspace (see www.religioustolerance.org). To them, itsyet another indication that Christianscant be trusted and that the Gospelitself isnt true. How sad!

We should keep it real so we canmaintain some semblance of credibilitybefore a watching world (see 1 Peter3:15).

2. Keeping it biblical.

The Apostle Paul told young Timothyto rightly dividethat is, to cor-rectly interpretthe Word of truth(see 2 Timothy 2:15). In talking abouta right way to interpret the Bible,

Paul infers that there is also a wrongway. In another passage, Peter warnsthat some people twist Scriptureand change its meaning (see 2 Peter3:16). So there are definitely right andwrong ways to interpret the Bible.

Now, I am fully aware that in our post-modern culture, its not in vogue to talkabout right and wrong interpreta-tions. Were not supposed to expressourselves in such absolute terms any-more. Many Bible study guides these

days simply quote a verse or two andthen ask, What did this passagemean to you? But Paul and Peterobviously believed there are rightand wrong interpretationsand theydidnt hesitate to say so.

Were not talking here about a mis-informed or off-the-wall dogmatism,but rather about our confidence in thetruthfulness of Gods word and ourresponsibility to expound on it accu-rately. We should be able and willing

to stand up and say, Thus saith theLord. . . .

This means we should strive to engagein exegesis (that is, extracting thedivinely intended meaning from apassage) rather than eisegesis (insert-ing our own ideas into that passage).Such an endeavor requires that weemploy sound principles of biblicalinterpretation (hermeneutics)andthat takes work. You may not realizeit, but your pastor may spend up to

an hour of study time for every min-ute hes at the pulpit! There are noshortcuts in the Lords workand ourteaching must be based squarely onthe Bible.

3. Keeping it practical.

The study of prophecy is eminentlypractical. If it ever becomes a navel-contemplating exercise, with no rel-evance to our daily lives, then wevemissed the whole point.

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The Apostle Peter, in his final epistle,puts it this way:

But the day of the Lord will comeas a thief in the night, in which theheavens will pass away with a greatnoise, and the elements will melt withfervent heat; both the earth and theworks that are in it will be burned up.Therefore, since all these things willbe dissolved, what manner of per-sons ought you to be in holy conductand godliness (2 Peter 3:10-11).

This is Practical Christianity 101,and each of us has to personally applyit every day. If we really believe theLord is on His way back to this Earth,that conviction will impact the waywe live. It will dictate our practices,our priorities, and our passions.

When people ask us if we think theLord will return in 2012, we shouldtell them we hope and pray that Hecomes before then! Were listening for

the trumpet blast now, not waiting tohear it three years from now (see 1Thessalonians 4:16). Were not inter-ested in a goofy, half-baked prophetictheory that says we have to wait until2012. And if today isnt the day, wecan hope it will be tomorrow, or maybe

the day after that. The cry of everyredeemed heart should be, Come, LordJesus! (see Revelation 22:20).

Ironically, the fact that theres somuch talk about the possibility of theRapture taking place in 2012mark-ing the beginning of the Tribulationis in itself a strong indication that2012 wont be the year. The LordYeshua the Messiah said that Hiscoming will be a complete surpriseto most people (see 1 Thessalonians5:2-4). It will happen when its leastexpectednot when everyone is talk-ing about it and Hollywood is makingmovies about the end of the world.

The truth is that we dont know thedate of His return. No one does. Itcould be tonight while were in ourbeds, or it could be 10 years from now.Maybe someday well find out that SirIsaac Newtons date of AD 2060 wasthe right one!

However much longer the Lord delaysHis coming, our study of the propheticWord should produce the fruit ofholiness and godliness in our lives.How longwe wait for His return isntnearly as important as how we wait.And even if the Lord doesnt come in our

lifetime, well spend the rest of our daexpectantly and joyfully serving Him

For the grace of God that brings salvtion has appeared to all men, teacing us that, denying ungodliness aworldly lusts, we should live soberighteously, and godly in the preseage, looking for the blessed hoand glorious appearing of our greGod and Savior [Yeshua the Messia(Titus 2:11-13).

2012: Doomsday? is available in booklet fo(99 each or 15 for $10, including postagehandling) from CJF Ministries (1-800-926-53Its also accessible online at www.cjfm.org.

Dr. Gary Hedrick is president of CJF Mistries. His daughter Elizabeth Nowotworks at CJFM in the communicatiodepartment.

Order the2009-2010 Messianic Jewish Art Calendar

featuring the artwork of Amy Sheetreet.

Visit MessianicSpecialties.com

or call (800) 926-5397.

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QuestionsBible

AnswersAND

by DR. GARY HEDRICK

UESTION: Im reading [a certainachers] commentary on Revelation,

d he says Revelation 14:20 should been literally to mean that at the BattleArmageddon, blood will flow in theley of Megiddo up to the height of ases bridle. He includes detailed cal-ations to prove that it could happen.retired now, but my training was in

thematics and engineeringand thisns figures just dont look right to me.elieve its symbolic language, but mynds at church say Im just too much

a skeptic. What do you think?

NSWER: Im with you on this one.

res the verse in question: And thenepress was trampled outside the city,d blood came out of the winepress, uphe horses bridles, for one thousandhundred furlongs (Rev. 14:20).

are literalists when it comes to ourerpretation of Scripture, but we stillognize symbolism when it occurs.e imagery of horses wading neck-p in blood can be found in numerous

cient Jewish sources. Its an examplehyperbolethat is, using deliberateggeration to make a point.

e Book of 1 Enoch, for example, usesimilar expression: The horse shalllk through the blood of sinners up tochest . . . (see 1 Enoch 100:3).

e ancient rabbinic source includes thistement: They [the Romans underdrian] slew the inhabitants [of Betar,er Bar-Kosiba, its defender, had beened] until the horses waded in bloodto the nostrils . . . (see Lamentationsbbah 2:2:4).

If we were going to take Revelation 14:20in a strictly literal sense, consistencywould require that we interpret the entireverse literally. That would mean theblood came from crushed grapes andflowed from a winepress located outsidethe city of Jerusalem, covering the entirecountry to a depthof four feet or so(1,600 furlongs is300 kilometers or180 miles, roughlythe distance fromthe northernmostpoint in Israel to itssouthern tip).

In my opinion, it ismore reasonable totake this reference as a figure of speechconveying the idea that divine judgmentwill result in unprecedented bloodshedand death in Israel during the TribulationPeriod.

QUESTION: How do you explain thecontradictions between the genealogiesof Jesus given in the Gospels of Matthewand Luke?

ANSWER: First of all, its important tounderstand that ancient Jewish genealo-gies differed in the form they took. Therewere both ascending and descendinggenealogies; also, while some were seg-mented, others were linear. Genealogiesalso varied in depththat is, they variedin the number of generations included.Most of the time, they were not meant tobe comprehensive. It was a common prac-tice to skip generations, depending onthe genealogys purpose (e.g., to establishinheritance rights, citizenship, or eventhe legal right of a king to rule).

In ascending genealogies, the Hebrewword ben can mean either son, or a moredistant descendant (in Genesis 29:5, itdenotes Laban, who was actually Nahorsgrandson). Likewise, in descending gene-alogies, the Hebrew word av can meaneither father or a more distant ancestor.

For example, when Matthew says thatJoram was the father of Uzziah (seeMatthew 1:9)also known as Azariahhes actually skipping three generations(compare to 1 Chronicles 3:10-12). Wealso know (by comparing other OTaccounts) that the four generations fromPerez to Amminadab spanned roughly450 yearsso there are obviously gapsat that point in the genealogy (becausewe would ordinarily expect four genera-

tions to encompass less than 200 years).The only people who have a problemwith any of this are modern readerswho are unfamiliar with the nature,character, and purpose of genealogiesin ancient Israel.

But lets apply a little common sensehere. If the genealogies in Matthew andLuke were identical, then one of themwould have been unnecessary. And since

i

continued on page 12

. . . it is more reasonable to take this

reference as a figure of speechconveying

the idea that divine judgment will result in

unprecedented bloodshed and death in

Israel during the Tribulation Period.

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To the Jew First (Romans 1:16)

Peter Parkas, CJFM missionary (New Jersey),spends aportion of his time ministering in New York City. He distrib-

utes Gospel tracts, evangelizes on New York Citys streets,andas the Lord leadsmeets one-on-one with unsavedJewish people who are open to hearing the Good News ofMessiah. He meets many unsaved Jewish people while min-istering at churches. After sharing his testimony at a recentchurch service, Peter met Gary, an unsaved Jewish man.Garys good friend Ed brought him to the church serviceEdhad been faithfully witnessing to Gary for a full year. Garywas open to the Gospel message, but he could not understandhow he could believe in Jesus and still be Jewish. Peterresponded, Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. So, what could bemore Jewish than to believe in Him? Besides, if He is notthe Jewish Messiah, then He was a liar and nobody shouldbelieve in Him.

Peter and Gary agreed to stay in touch by phone for morein-depth discussions. Gary then visited a church where Peterwas scheduled to be the guest speaker. Gary attended theSunday school class Peter taught on The Jewish Covenants,and the church service in which Peter delivered a messageon End Times. A few days later, Gary prayed to receive hisJewish Messiah. Gary said, Peters ministry deeply touchedhim, and that Peter was the final impetus in his salvationdecision. Peter writes, Ed continues to disciple Gary; Garyand I still stay in touch, and he is wholeheartedly followingthe Lord. This is such an encouragement to me, and I receivegreat joy when I think of Gary.

And Also to the Greek (Romans 1:16)CJFM missionary Richard Toviah (Phoenix) shares aprovidential encounter from a recent visit with his motherin Calgary, Canada. Richard took time to volunteer at theFlea Market Ministry, which he had helped manage when helived in Calgary. This ministry is an outreach to everyone, butespecially to Jewish peopleoffering free tracts, books, anda full-time missionary from a Jewish mission organization.As Richard was preparing to lock up at the end of the day,Frank stopped by and began conversing with Richard.

As they began discussing spiritual matters, Richard askFrank two diagnostic questions from Dr. D. James KennedEvangelism Explosion plan: (1) If you were to die tonigdo you have the assurance that you would go to heaven?

What would you say if you were to stand before the Loand He were to ask you, Why should I let you in? Frareplied that he does more good than bad, and hopes thwould be enough to get him into Heaven. Richard then askif he knew the Ten Commandments. As Richard recited theFrank admitted that he had already broken three and agrehe probably wouldnt fair too well on the Day of JudgmeNext, Richard asked Frank if he had heard of the Gospel aknew what it meant, to which Frank responded, No.

Richard shared the entire Gospel message, the Good Newand then asked Frank if he would like to receive this frgift of faith. Frank responded, Who wouldnt want thiRichard and Frank held hands as Frank prayed to repent areceive Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Richard writes, Im nsure who shed more tears, Frank or I. I left the Flea MarkMinistry, and Canada, full of praise to the Lord.

More Joy

Richard Toviah continues to praise the Lord for the salvatiof lost souls. While leading a messianic Passover Seder acongregation in Mesa, Arizona, five members of a Hispafamily responded to his invitation to receive the Lord. He lahad a unique experience while at a Passover Seder withpredominantly Navajo congregation. The pastors wife helpinterpret the Passover using the Navajo language and Bibtranslation, and six Navajo individuals prayed to receive tLord at the end of the service.

And Also to the Youth

Richard Hill, CJFM missionary (Las Vegas), was receninvited to be one of three guest speakers at a youth rally wan audience comprised of 200-300 youth. The outreach eveincluded dramatic skits, worship music, and a three-fold themrepentance, the Gospel, and how to live a holy life. Richataught on the Gospel of Jesus, using John 3 as his textwheNicodemus asked Jesus how a person could be born agai

by Violette Berger

Fruitthe

Harvest

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After the message, Rich gave an invitation and asked for ashow of hands from everyone who had prayed the sinnersprayer. Hands rose throughout the auditorium, and these

young people were invited to come forward. Rich said thathe was inundated with youth and could not count them all.Between him and another pastor, they safely estimated that70 youth came to know Jesus that night.

Rich adds, Pastors came forward to join me in praying forthese new believers as they begin their new life in Messiah.We were all intrigued as to how God orchestrated the entirerally. The first topic of repentance prompted the youth tothink about their sin, the consequences of sin, and the need toturn from sin. Next, the Gospel was preached so they knew toturn to Jesus. The final teaching was on how to live the holylife after receiving Jesus. In all the years of our ministry, wenever had a day in the Lord like thishallelujah!

On the same day, Richard Hill had also conducted a messianicPassover Seder at a senior-care facility. Richards wife, Oanh,talked with an 86-year-old Jewish man, and explained why

Yeshua is the Lamb of God. She had the privilege of leading himto the Lord, and this added blessing brought the total numberof souls saved that day to 71! This is the day the LORD hasmade; We will rejoice and be glad in it(Psalm 118:24).

Israelis at the Mall

As another aspect of his ministry, CJFM missionary BrianZuckerman (Las Vegas) focuses on ministering in shoppingmalls. He learned, early on, that wearing his shirt with thewords, Jesus loves you imprinted inside a Star of David cre-

ated many opportunities to engage in discourses on spiritualmatters. In separate instances one day, Brian met three curiousyoung Israelis and had great conversations that allowed himto share the Gospel message with each of them. It was Avi,however, with whom he had a more in-depth discussion.

Brian explained through the Levitical system that in orderto have fellowship with God, animal sacrifices were requiredto cover Israels sin. He continued with Gods new covenantpromise in Jeremiah 31, and pointed out, It is Yeshua (Jesus)who establishes the new covenant by cleansing us from allsinnot simply covering sin as the animal sacrifices did. It isHis blood atonement that cleanses sin from those of us whoreceive this priceless gift of faith. Brian asks that we pleasepray for Avi, and for more opportunities to share with him.

Hasidim on Campus

During his outreach ministry on the Ohio State Universitycampus, CJFM missionary Eric Chabot (Columbus) hasbeen provided many opportunities to discuss spiritual issueswith Jewish students from diverse backgrounds. He was,therefore, not surprised when four Hasidic Jewish studentsapproached him. Eric writes, The Chabad-LubavitchHasidicmovement adheres to the same view of Messiah as that of

Moses Maimonidesthe most celebrated Jewish philosopherof the Middle Ages (1135-1204). Maimonides wrote that theMessiah was not divine, and He did not die and rise from

the dead to make atonement for our sins. This was exactlywhat I heard in our talk with these Hasidic students as theyrejected our explanation of Messiah, saying it was impossiblefor Jesus to be the Messiah.

Eric told the students how the Bible and other Jewish writ-ings give a basis for a suffering, or atoning, Messiah. Headds, When I read from Isaiah 53where the Bible saysthe Messiah would be rejected by his own peopletheyseemed confused. After talking with them for over an hour,we departed on somewhat friendly terms, and I praise Godfor the opportunity to plant seeds.

More Divine Appointments

While distributing tracts outside the University of New Orleanslibrary, CJFM missionaryMichelle Beadle (New Orleans)was quite surprised when a student actually asked for a tract.After he finished reading it, Michelle was interested in hear-ing his thoughts. He told her that he thought it was wonderfulthat she was on campus learning what students believed. WhenMichelle asked him about his spiritual background, he told herthat he was a Buddhist and had never read the Bible. Whenshe offered him a copy, he said that he was too busy to read itwhile studying and preparing for his dental school interviewthe next day.

Michelle then asked if she could pray for him. When she fin-ished, he asked, Can I give you a hug? Michelle writes, He

gave me a huge bear hug and expressed how thankful he wasfor the prayer. He told me, Ive never had anyone pray for mebefore. I will never forget this time. I asked again if I couldgive him a Bible, and this time he said, yes and promisedhe would read it that evening. God was so good to lead meto someone who really needed encouragement, prayer, and aBible. It was truly a divine appointment!

After leading the first portion of a Messiah in the PassoverSeder in Tennessee, CJFM missionary Michael Campo(Chicago) found himself enjoying the company of a lovelycouple during dinneronly to discover that they were bothJewish. Michael notes, I dont believe that there is a largeJewish population in Tennessee, but I do believe God brought

these two for me to meet. While witnessing to them, henoticed that the woman was more interested and willing tolisten. He asked her, What is keeping you from believing andtrusting that Jesus is your Messiah?

Her answer was honest, Michael writes. I appreciated itwhen she said, I havent made up my mind. Similar to thoseto whom Paul spoke, some believed, some mocked, and oth-ers were willing to hear more. Her answer was encouragingbecause most are unwilling. Please pray that her search endswith faith in her Jewish Messiah.

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CJF Ministries

Post Office Box 345

San Antonio, Texas 78292-0345

In ThIs Issue

2012: Doomsday?by Dr. Gary Hedrick &

Elizabeth NowotnyPage 1

Bible Questionsand Answers

by Dr. Gary HedrickPage 9

Fruit from the Harvestby Violette Berger

Page 10

God is the ultimate economizer of space, logic dictates thatthe differences between the genealogies must be purposeful.

When we study them in detail, it becomes apparent that thetwo royal genealogies are complementary, not contradictoryand that their distinctive features are rich in meaning andsignificance.

Matthews account, for example, presents Yeshua (Jesus) ofNazareth as the Son of David (this title occurs numerous timesin Matthew), and also as the promised King of IsraelHescalled a king seven times. So it should come as no surprisethat Matthews genealogy (see Matthew 1:1-17) emphasizesJesus legal claim to the throne of David, tracing His royaldescent from David and Abraham.

Matthew may have had another reason for arranging his royalgenealogy the way he did. He presents the names in three sets

of 14 generations each (see Matthew 1:17). In Jewish Gematria(an ancient practice that assigns a numerical value to eachletter in the Hebrew alphabet), Davids name (DVD in Hebrew,which has no vowels) has a value of 14 (dalet + vav + dalet, or4 + 6 + 4 = 14). Also, David is the fourteenth name listed inMatthews genealogy. So, this was a distinctive and stylisticallyJewish way to present the Lord Jesus as a royal descendantof King David and the rightful heir to the throne.

Lukes Gospel, on the other hand, was written by a physician-sci-entist whose purpose was to emphasize the Lords humanityinLuke, the Lord refers to Himself as the Son of Man more than20 times. Dr. Lukes genealogy (see Luke 3:23-38) differs fromMatthews because it emphasizes the Lords biological descentfrom Davidand from Adam, the first man.

Doctoral dissertations have been written on the messianigenealogies, so we make no pretense of having dealt with th

subject exhaustively here. There are other questions (like whytwo different people are listed as Josephs father in Matthew1:16 and Luke 3:23), but there are many possibilities andnumerous theories that have been proposed to resolve themTherefore, it is the height of arrogance and presumption whena casual reader, with only a cursory knowledge of the factsnotes the differences in these two genealogies and jumps tothe conclusion that one or both of them is in error.

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